By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School baseball team scored in every inning but one to defeat visiting Blanchard Valley Conference rival Pandora-Gilboa 14-6 on a windy and warm Monday, May 4.

The Rockets scored first by tallying a single run in the top of the first inning. The Bulldogs countered by plating two runs in the home half of the first. 

P-G went back in front with two runs in their second. Ada responded with a four-run second frame to take the lead for good.

Junior shortstop Wes Mowery stroked a run-scoring double to right-center field to ignite the big inning. An RBI single by Xavier Smith brought home another run. The Rockets booted a grounder to shortstop and issued a walk to load the bases.

Senior Mason Wibley kept the line moving as he delivered an RBI single to left field that gave Ada a 4-3 lead.

Freshman Robert Shanks then bounced a two-run single up the middle into center field to stretch the margin to 6-3.

The Bulldogs scored three more runs in the fifth frame to build a 12-4 advantage, and went on to win by eight.  

“It is a good feeling to get back in the win column,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “We have been playing well enough to win, and finally got that done tonight.”

Ada improved to 7-10 overall and 3-5 in the BVC after the home victory that snapped a seven-game losing skid.

Pandora-Gilboa fell to 4-10 and 2-5 in BVC action with the defeat.

Starting hurler Shanks drove in a career-high five runs on three hits, stole a base and also earned the pitching win. He gave up four hits and three earned runs in 3.3 innings on the mound. He struck out four and walked four.

Wibley relieved and hurled the next 2.7 frames. He allowed three hits and two earned runs with two whiffs and two walks.

Wibley also stroked three singles, scored twice, walked once and drove in a run.

Mowery hurled a hitless final inning with one strikeout. On offense, he drove in three runs with a two-bagger and scored once.

Ada junior catcher Andrew Allen contributed a single, three runs, a walk and one RBI. Sophomore second baseman Thad Smith singled in a run, scored twice, drew a walk and stole a base.

Sophomore first baseman Xavier Smith singled home a run, scored once, drew two walks and swiped a bag. Junior DH Brody Rister walked twice and scored a run.

The Bulldogs out-hit the Rockets 10-7, and drew eight walks. Ada committed three errors and P-G was guilty of two miscues. 

Rocket pitcher Nolan Leatherman smacked two doubles, scored three runs and added a single and one RBI. He took the loss after hurling just 1.3 innings. 

Shortstop Grady Kempf doubled, drove in three runs and scored once. Cam Verhoff walked twice, stole two bases and tallied a run.

P-G left 12 runners on the basepaths, while Ada stranded eight.

The Bulldogs visit non-league foe Fort Jennings (8-6) on Wednesday, May 6. FJ fell to Ayersville 4-3 on Monday.

Ada then hosts Hardin County rival Kenton (3-11) on Thursday. The Wildcats lost 8-1 at Wapakoneta on Monday.

P-G 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 6 7 2

Ada 2 4 0 3 3 2 x 14 10 3  

WP-Shanks  LP-Leatherman

2B-Mowery (A), Leatherman 2 (PG), Kempf (PG)